Agastache 'Morello'
Overview
Uses: Mid-border plantings, cottage gardens, large patio containers, pollinator gardens, cutting gardens.
Benefits: The largest, densest flower spikes in the genus, in a deep burgundy-rose that no other agastache offers. It starts in late spring — weeks ahead of most hummingbird mints — and keeps producing until frost.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–10
Sun: Full sun
Life Cycle: Hardy Perennial
Growth Habit: Upright, clumping — multiple crowns forming a broad vertical clump
Bloom Color: Burgundy and rose pink
Foliage Color: Green, taking on bronze-purple tones in cool weather
Mature Height: 27–33 in.
Mature Width: 22 in.
Bloom Season: Late spring through fall
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
Most agastache give you a color choice between blue-purple and warm orange. 'Morello' gives you cherry juice.
The inflorescences are the largest in the genus — long, wide, and densely packed with rose-pink tubular florets held in burgundy calyces. Because the calyces hold their color after the florets drop, the spike stays ornamental well past its actual bloom window. Flowering begins in late spring, considerably earlier than most hummingbird mints, and continues in succession until frost.
Foliage is mid-green through the heat of summer and takes on bronze and purple tints as temperatures cool in spring and fall, which reinforces the flower color at both ends of the season. The plant builds multiple crowns quickly, so it thickens into a broad upright clump rather than thinning out in the middle.
It draws hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies steadily, and it holds up in heat and drought once established. Deer and rabbits leave it alone.
Care
Morello Agastache Care
Full sun. This is not a plant that tolerates shade gracefully — stems stretch and the flower count falls off sharply.
Well-drained soil is the requirement. Average fertility is fine and lean is better than rich; overly fertile ground produces soft growth that leans. Winter wet is the real hazard, so amend heavy clay with grit or plant on a raised mound.
Water through the first season to establish. After that it prefers to dry down between waterings and only needs help in extended drought.
Skip fertilizer in decent soil. On poor ground, one spring application of slow release fertilizer covers the season.
Cut spent spikes back to a leaf node to keep new ones coming. Leave the framework standing over winter to protect the crown and feed birds, then cut to the base in early spring.
Divide every three to four years in spring if the clump becomes crowded. Container growing: choose a pot with real depth for the root system, use a gritty free-draining mix, and water when the top inch dries. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Morello Agastache for Sale Online?
Our Morello Agastache ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants may arrive with buds or blooms during the active growing season. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Morello Agastache Grow?
Expect a mature height of about 27–33 in. and a spread of roughly 22 in. in the garden. Growth rate is fast. If you have questions about spacing for your site, please contact us.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
Several are in regular use, listed from most to least common:
- Hummingbird mint
- Hyssop
- Anise hyssop
- Licorice mint
Is 'Morello' considered a native plant?
It is a nativar — a named selection bred from native species rather than a wild species itself. Its parentage traces to Agastache cusickii, A. cana, and A. pallida, all North American. Pollinator value is comparable to the parent species. You can see how it fits alongside our other Native Plants of North America.
How early does it actually start blooming?
Late spring, typically May in the middle of its range. That is several weeks ahead of most agastache, which usually wait until June. The bloom then runs in succession rather than in one flush, so the plant stays in flower until frost.
How tall does it get, and will it need staking?
The leafy clump holds around 27 inches and the spikes carry to roughly 33. It does not normally need staking — the stems are stout and the multi-crown habit supports itself. Rich soil and shade are what cause leaning, not height.
How does it compare to older varieties like 'Bolero'?
'Morello' produces more crowns and heavier branching, larger individual flowers, and denser inflorescences, and it blooms longer. It is also more upright where 'Bolero' tends to sprawl.
